Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-09
IN JEFFERsoN.
The Lack of Enthusiasm at the Election
Speaas Volumes.

The LACK OF EnthuAla8h ~ inc G-A0N~-o
spealxs Volumes.
To tie Editor of The Register.
CHARLEsTowN, w. VA, April 6.-Mr'
Editor: In the good old days there was
some appreciation of the result OF an cleo
tion-some demonstration: music, bon
fire. a hurrah! But in these more modern
DAYS, when politicians seek personal
yindication rather than the welfare oil the
public or the life and progress of the party
and all that it implies, if there is more than
n erunt of satisfaction the glorifcation Is
confined TO a select few. So, here on Tues
Sav NIGHT as a questionable yindication
was yo1chsafed it fell on dull ears, and in
different sensibilities were not touched, nor
The fact faced the people that by fac
tious course of less than bakers dozen oil
men who set themselves up as Reform
ers," the splendid majority OF Jefferson,
heretofore a thousand-aye, one time |, >Z5O
has beeu reduced to less than five hun
dred. and that secured only by the most
active efforts and earnest solicitation
even TO the wetting of dry whistles and
the soothing of itching palms. Method"
were employed indeed, as the following
overheard conversation gives proof: BECK
with worker to Bob, the colored ostler:
sEWeIl. have YOU voted?" Yes, s-slr. "
'sHow did you yOte?" 'W-e-ll, III v-voted
i-iust the op-op-pOsite t-ticket t-from t-that
Won DIV me" "Why, was that right after
what I've done for your" ''W-well, s-slr,
c-can't help it vote for p-p-prlnciple.
heard Mr.. Lu-Lucas say in the C-eourt
H-house last fall t-that a m-man that
w-would s-sell his v-v-yOte wasn't as
gig good as d-dOg"
The Republicans saw some show Tor
getting a member of the Legislature from
jefferson, and felt assured that even
though they might not achieve such vic
tory there was nothing to lose by the effort
as they would ut least maintain their Or
ganizatiOn and be the better prepared for
the great conflict of next year. They eX-
hibited their usual degree Of political
by putting in the field. a
worthy mana farmer land have not the
granger class been yearning for a tiller OF
the soil to be seated among the States
and claimed that the class OF
all classes, which is, after all, the great
producer and taxpayer and stay
of the State, should be TepreSented?) a
popular man with strong following on ac-
count of his personal eXcellencies, con-
sentative Republican, one SO highly es-
teemed that he was the recipient Ofnumer-
Gus Democratic votes q few years ago.
They realized the situation. They rightly
conceived the notion that u man Of the
character Of Mr.. HigginbOtham, who was
not averse to the election Of Senator at
the special session, and who, though much
desiring to secure the election of Senator
of his own political faith, yet regarded the
interests of tn, State more than mereparty
advantage, and would, under certain con-
ditions, vote for so public spirited Il
citizen as Mr.. Camden rather than the
State should only have half its representa-
ton in the U. S. Senate, would command
Democratic support. They calculated, OF
course, on getting number OF votes for
such man from those who felt outraged
that their representatives in the LegiSla-
ture had so misjudged their duty. The
''caucus" Democratic voters Of Jefferson
were handicapped. They had preached
party lealty, observance of old time GUS
toms. and when county convention laid
aside n resolution that breathed naught but
genuine, old time Democracy, and nOmiDa-
ted a gentleman who pledged himself to
keep out of party caucus when he got
into the Legislature-in other words, to
treat with contempt party machinery, they
felt reasonable embarrassment, and split
the difference by staying away from the
polls. Thus it will be seen that the vote
polled is less by 5Sl than that OF NOvem-
Der =, lss6, for Congressional candidates -
Wilson and Flick; and, instead Of Dem
ocratic majority OF 1000 or l,2OO, Col.
Beckwith has n measly 497, and Col. Chew
and Senator Lucas are vindicated with q
vengeance. A few such victories will set,
tie the hash for Jefferson, for the Second
Congressional district aud for the State.
As the tree falls, so must II lie.
L. \. r.